Why so many JDM importers in Bradford?

[bobsavage789]

Evening all,

I’ve been looking at getting a Volvo estate as a family runaround, and buying a Japanese import seems like a viable option to pursue…

I noticed that lots of them seem to be based in Bradford: does anyone know why this might be?

I’m aware of the general wariness surrounding buying from that part of the country, but anything specific I should be concerned about buying an import from Bradford?

Examples:

‘Global Vehicle Imports Ltd’
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108216...

‘MPV Hub Limited’
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107185...

‘Jap Car Finder’
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104231...

[codenamecueball]

My guess would be low overheads making it worthwhile. Also, who is going to pay £7000 for a 2012 Touran???

[bobsavage789]

Yes, some of the pricing is… optimistic…

[Johnnytheboy]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Bradford gets mentioned. A lot.

[Ziplobb]

Moneylaundering ?

[Bemmer]

It's amazing how many miles are "lost at sea"

[anonymous-user]

That XC70 is pretty nice actually. I run a slightly older one, nowhere near as well presented. Sunroof is pretty rare too I think at that age.

[Rathcon]

Funnily enough I'm looking at a getting a JDM too, an Elgrand and was thinking exactly the same thing there seems to be loads of them around Bradford.

From what research I have done so far Just Japanese in Wigan and Vine Place I think in Durham are pretty highly rated.

[ARHarh]

It may just be as simple as one person started importing and employed someone who thought I can make a living at this and setup nearby, and the first employed another and so on. You often see it with more niche business's.

[bobsavage789]

Powerfully Built Company Director said:

That XC70 is pretty nice actually. I run a slightly older one, nowhere near as well presented. Sunroof is pretty rare too I think at that age.

Interesting…

Any comments on the XC70 of that era; running costs/reliability etc.?

I quite like the look of them, and assuming one can swap the head unit for something more modern, it’d make an ideal family bus, I think…

[MattyD803]

Rathcon said:

Funnily enough I'm looking at a getting a JDM too, an Elgrand and was thinking exactly the same thing there seems to be loads of them around Bradford.

From what research I have done so far Just Japanese in Wigan and Vine Place I think in Durham are pretty highly rated.

Over on the Elgrand OC forum, this place gets one hell of a lot of praise - they must be doing something right.

My van came in via Ace Imports near Reading, who also bring all manner of vehicles over and were very good to deal with.

[efcgriswold]

Rathcon said:

Funnily enough I'm looking at a getting a JDM too, an Elgrand and was thinking exactly the same thing there seems to be loads of them around Bradford.

From what research I have done so far Just Japanese in Wigan and Vine Place I think in Durham are pretty highly rated.

We’re waiting on our Elgrand from vine place to get out of DVLA prison. 2007 3.5 4x4 with 44k. Couldn’t find anything else like it for the money. Spare parts looked to be an issue at first but saw quite a few suppliers via the OC.

[S16KBW]

I live in Bradford an I think that the number of importers is due to local buyer preference, a lot of the Asian community have a preference towards either 'Flashy German performance' or 'reliable Japanese' cars.

A lot of people in Bradford who don't have an Audi, VW or Mercedes etc. tend to drive either the big people carriers such as the Elgrands or the imported hybrid stuff (Prius, Avensis etc.)

Even though many people have this preconceived perception that everything in Bradford is dodgy, there are a lot of honest people in the city just making an honest living!

Edited by S16KBW on Wednesday 8th September 11:45

[anonymous-user]

bobsavage789 said:

Interesting…

Any comments on the XC70 of that era; running costs/reliability etc.?

I quite like the look of them, and assuming one can swap the head unit for something more modern, it’d make an ideal family bus, I think…

Personally I have a love hate relationship. The only reason for hate is how uncool it is, no fun to drive whatsoever. Also mine is year 2000 / X reg so might have improved a lot in those years.

I went for the XC as it’s AWD, which is a mandatory requirement for me out here. Otherwise, yeah, it’s roomy, comfortable, never been stranded apart from a battery issue but that was my own fault. Cheap to run.

It’s never the car I’m excited to use, but it’s always picked for some roles, and does them very well

[bobsavage789]

S16KBW said:

I live in Bradford an I think that the number of importers is due to local buyer preference, a lot of the Asian community have a preference towards either 'Flashy German performance' or 'reliable Japanese' cars.

A lot of people in Bradford who don't have an Audi, VW or Mercedes etc. tend to drive either the big people carriers such as the Elgrands or the imported hybrid stuff (Prius, Avensis etc.)

Even though many people have this preconceived perception that everything in Bradford is dodgy, there are a lot of honest people in the city just making an honest living!

Edited by S16KBW on Wednesday 8th September 11:45

Thanks for the insight: this sounds like a very plausible reason.

I bought a mk 7 GTI from Bradford in 2017, and it was the most reliable car I’ve ever had. It was from JCT600, so main dealer, but still…

[bobsavage789]

Powerfully Built Company Director said:

Personally I have a love hate relationship. The only reason for hate is how uncool it is, no fun to drive whatsoever. Also mine is year 2000 / X reg so might have improved a lot in those years.

I went for the XC as it’s AWD, which is a mandatory requirement for me out here. Otherwise, yeah, it’s roomy, comfortable, never been stranded apart from a battery issue but that was my own fault. Cheap to run.

It’s never the car I’m excited to use, but it’s always picked for some roles, and does them very well

Thank you for the feedback.

AWD isn’t a requirement for me; I just think the XC looks better than the V (although if there’s a marked difference in MPG would outweigh aesthetics).

I’m not so bothered about it being tedious to drive, as I’m planning to run some sort of weekend car alongside. If anything (Clive), it might make the weekend car more exciting… maybe…

[anonymous-user]

bobsavage789 said:

Thank you for the feedback.

AWD isn’t a requirement for me; I just think the XC looks better than the V (although if there’s a marked difference in MPG would outweigh aesthetics).

I’m not so bothered about it being tedious to drive, as I’m planning to run some sort of weekend car alongside. If anything (Clive), it might make the weekend car more exciting… maybe…

I can’t comment on the exact effect of the Mpg difference brought about by the AWD; sure some Googling would answer, or anecdotes from more informed people on here.

I guess, if you don’t need the AWD then the V is probably the better option? You are right if I recall there are some cosmetic differences with the XC - something about the bumpers maybe?

Should have mentioned my car is in the pre parking sensors era, so, touch / bump parking means the big rubbery bumpers are actually really useful!!

[Jamescrs]

ARHarh said:

It may just be as simple as one person started importing and employed someone who thought I can make a living at this and setup nearby, and the first employed another and so on. You often see it with more niche business's.

I think this will be a big part of it, see it a lot in Bradford where one person sets up a type of business and others see it making money and think "I can do that" and another springs up close by, and so on and so on.

[Fuyursuki]

S16KBW said:

I live in Bradford an I think that the number of importers is due to local buyer preference, a lot of the Asian community have a preference towards either 'Flashy German performance' or 'reliable Japanese' cars.

A lot of people in Bradford who don't have an Audi, VW or Mercedes etc. tend to drive either the big people carriers such as the Elgrands or the imported hybrid stuff (Prius, Avensis etc.)

Even though many people have this preconceived perception that everything in Bradford is dodgy, there are a lot of honest people in the city just making an honest living!

Edited by S16KBW on Wednesday 8th September 11:45

Aye second this living in Bradford too anything flash is usually an M performance, RS or AMG model, anything else is a reliable workhorse.

There is admittedly alot of old petrol station forecourts that regularly swing between hand car wash places and cheap dealerships but still

[bobsavage789]

It seems like I have an answer: thanks all.

I was concerned it might be something dodgy, which would have sent me back to the drawing board…